Phuket, Thailand, October 16, 2007—A devotee of the Chinese shrine Ban Tha Rue runs over hot coals as part of a ten-day vegetarian festival at the country's biggest resort. (Watch a video of the festival.)

Participants of the annual festival, which begins on the first evening of the ninth lunar month, eat vegetarian and vegan food to cleanse the spirit.

They also perform various rituals—such as puncturing their cheeks with swords—as religious acts to bring good luck to their community.